Washing-machine.



G. A. STARKWEATHER & D. D. HUTSON.

WASHING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAE.26,1914.

1,127,305., Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1 9 2% an Z "HE NORRIS PETERS C0 PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTOND. C,

G. A; STARKWEATHER & D. D HUTSON.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.26,1914.'

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTC-LITHQ, WASHINGTON D C.

prinrnn s'rarns rnrnn ra ion.

GEORGE A. STARKWEATHER AND DEL D. HUTSON, OF FORT MADISON, IOWA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application filed March 26, 1914. Serial No. 827,423.

To alt whom it may concern Be it known that we, Gnonen A. STARK- WEATHERand DEL D. HUTSON, citizens of the United States, residing at FortMadison, in the county of Lee and titate of Iowa, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in washing machinesand as its principal object aims to provide an apparatus of thischaracter which may be cheaply manufactured, will be durable andeflicient in its action and may be easily cleaned after use.

An object of equal importance with the foregoing is to provide a washingmachine consisting essentially in a body portion which is formed in thenature of a tub, and is removably mounted in a supporting frame having abracket in which a lamp or similar heating element may be placed for thepurpose of heating the water in the tub so that the tub acts not only asa receptacle for the clothes but serves also as the boiler.

A further object is to provide for the tub or body of the washingmachine a removable cover which carries the operating mecha nism for aplurality of vertically reciprocable pounders.

A still further object is the provision of a novel form of clothespounders which con sists essentially in a shaft or stem having aslidable terminally disposed suction cup which is adapted to beyieldably engaged with the clothes through the agency of a helicalspring which is wound around the shaft and normally holds the cup at theextreme lower terminal of the shaft.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the followingspecification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims whichare appended hereto and form a part of this application.

With reference to the drawings, wherein we have illustrated thepreferred embodiment of our invention as it is reduced to practice, andthroughout the several views of which similar reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts, Figure l is a side elevation showing thepreferred form of the invention with the various elements thereof inoperative assembled position;

' Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the machine, and Fig. f is a detailperspective View of one of the pounders and the bracket or casing inwhich it is mounted for reciprocation.

As has been heretofore explained, our invention consists essentially ina body memher, which is formed in the nature of a tublike receptacle,indicated at 10, and a supporting frame 11 in which the receptacle isremovably mounted and which carries a seat or bracket 12 adapted tosupport an oil burner below the receptacle for the purpose of heatingthe water contained therein.

The body member 10 is, as stated, preferably, although not necessarily,constructed of sheet metal. This body member or tub 10 is stamped orpressed at its upper edge to produce threads so that the threaded flange13 of the cover 14 may be quickly engaged with the upper edge of the tuband in sealing relation thereto for the purpose of preventing the escapeof water during the washing of the clothes.

A relatively wide strip of wood or any other light material is, asindicated at 15, secured to the lower face of the cover 14 and extendsas a diameter thereof. The reinforcing strip 15 is provided to brace themiddle portion of the cover which is subjected to no little strainduring the reciprocation of the pounders. These pounders. as will behereinafter more fully explained, are adapted to reciprocate withinthetub l0, and may be removed therefrom by removing the cover 14. Thepounders are substantially identical in construction, and it is deemednecessary, therefore, to describe only one of them in detail. For thispurpose, reference will be now had particularly to Fig. 4:. As shown inthis figure, each pounder includes a stem or shaft 16, which is freelyreceived within a U-shaped supporting bracket or casing 17.

It is necessary, of course, to provide means for preventing the movementof the shaft 16 through the casing 17 to such an extent that the shaftswill be withdrawn therefrom and for this reason we have provided foreach terminal portion of the shaft a spring. These springs, designatedindividually by the numerals l8 and 19, are wound around the shaft andare of the type known as helical springs. The convolutions of thesesprings are of greater diameter than the width of the casing 17 so thattheir terminal convolutions may be engaged against the and 35.

adjacent edges of the adjacent terminals of the casing 17. A nut,indicated at 20, is threaded on the upper terminal of the shaft 16 andobviously holds the spring 18 against displacement. The lower spring 19bears against the upper terminal of the pounding cup, indicated at 21,and is thus held against displacement from the shaft 16. The shaft 16 isheld against lateral movement through the casing 17 by means of thecrank members 22 and 23. It will be noted upon reference to Fig. 4 thatthe bight portions 24 and 25 of the cranks are journaled in pairs oftransversely alined spaced apertures formed in the side walls of thecasing 17 so that these bight portions effect a closure of the openportion of the casing and thus prevent the lateral displacement of theshaft 16.

The arm 26 of the crank 23 is extended so that it may project beyond theedge of the cover 14, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. An L- shaped extension27 is formed on the arm 26 and obviously serves as a handle whereby thecrank 23 may be operated. It may be well to explain at this point thatthe arm 28 of the crank 23 carries a pinion or gearwheel 29 which isadapted to mesh with a gear-wheel carried by the other plunger crank sothat the operator may by turning the member 27 effect the simultaneousand opposed reciprocation of the two plungers,

which are designated as entireties in Fig. 2

by the numerals 30 and 31.

It will now be noted upon reference particularly to Figs. 1 and 3 thatthe terminals of the cranks of each of the plungers 30 and 31 arejournaled in pairs of spaced brackets which are mounted on thecoverplate 14. The brackets in which the cranks of the member 31 arejournaled are designated individually by the numerals 32 and 33, whilethe brackets or bearings which receive the cranks of the plunger 30 areindividually designated by the numerals 34 These brackets aresubstantially identical in construction, each consisting of asubstantially triangular body portion 36 and a pair of terminallydisposed laterally extending spaced flanges 37 and 38. These flanges 37and 38 are apertured and receive rivets or similar fastening devices 39which are passed through the cover plate 14 and obviously tend to holdthe body portions 36 in vertical position on the cover. The bodyplates36 of the brackets 32 and 33 are transversely alined as are the bodyplates of the members 34 and 35, but, as will be observed upon referenceto Figs.'2 and 3, these pairs of brackets are arranged in staggeredrelation to each other so that a gearwheel 40 which is keyed on the armof the lower crank of the plunger 30 may mesh with the gear wheel 29 ofthe crank 23, which as shown in Fig. 3, is associated with the plunger31.

It is now to be noted that the terminals of the lower crank of theplunger 30 are arranged to rotate on the face of the cover 14 and areheld in proper position therein by channeled bearing plates, indicatedat 41. Similar bearing plates, indicated at 42, serve to hold the armsof the crank 23 in the proper position.

The foregoing description will make clear the manner in which thepounders are reciprocated, for it will be seen that the handle 27 of thecrank 23 will produce the reciprocation of the U -shaped casing 17through the slot or elongated opening 43 which is formed in the cover 14and reinforcing member 15. It will also be noted that this reciprocatingmotion of the U- shaped casing 17 of the pounder 31 will be communicatedto the pounder 30 by means of the gear-wheel 40 and the crank of themember 30 to which it is attached.

As will be noted upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2 the pounders are, whenthe machine is assembled, so arranged that their respective upward anddownward movement through the tub willbe alternate. An opening 44similar to the opening 43 is, of course, provided to receive the pounder30, as best shown in Fig. 3.

The purpose in providing each of the U- shaped casings 17 with a pair ofcranks will now become apparent for it will be noted that by equippingeach of the U-shaped casings 17 with two cranks, these casings will beheld at all times in vertical position and will not be free to swing.Thus, while each of the pounding cups 21, which members will behereinafter described in detail, moves through an ellipse during eachreciprocation of the pounders 30 and 31 the shafts 16 of both pounderswill at all times be in a vertical position so that the pressure eX-erted upon the clothes is always exerted in a vertical line and never atanacute angle with respect to the bottom of the tub.

As will be'apparent, the springs 18 and 19 operate not only to hold theshaft 16 against displacement upon the casing 17 but also serve as shockabsorbers. When the cups 21 engage the clothes or the water it isobvious that the spring 19 will yield and permit the shafts 16 to slideupwardly through the casing 17 and that when the cups are beingwithdrawn from the water the springs 18 will yield, permitting theshafts 16 to slide downwardly through the casing 17 in response to theforce of the suction, which will tend to hold the cups againstwithdrawal from the water.

The pounder cups are preferably formed of sheet metal and arebell-shaped. The upper terminal of each of the cups is provided with acentral aperture or orifice which receives the shafts 16. In theapproximate center of each cup 21 is arranged a diametrically extendingpin or rod 45 which is directed through an opening or bore formed in theshaft and serves to hold the cup 21 against movement on the shaft.

The tub member is, as has been hereinbefore explained, removably mountedin a sup porting frame or brace 11. This supporting frame 11 consistsessentially in four quadrantly spaced metallic legs 46, the upperterminals of which are bolted or otherwise secured, as indicated at 47to a sheet metal band 48. This band 48 is of an internal diameter equalto the external diameter of the tub 10 so that the lower terminals ofthe tub may be snugly fitted within the band. In order to support thetub a second band or ring of metal, indicated at 49, is securedinteriorly of the band 48 by the same fasten ing devices which areemployed in holding the legs 46.

It will be obvious upon reference to Fi n 2 that this ring 49 receivesthe lower edge of the tub and serves as a support therefor. The lowerterminals of the legs 46 are connected to a pair of cross-braces,indicated at 50 and 51. The terminals of the members 50 and 51 areprovided with lateral extensions which, as indicated at 52, areapertured to receive fastening devices 53 by which they are secured tothe leg members 46. On these cross braces 50 and 51 and at the point ofintersection thereof is mounted the casing 12 which is adapted toreceive an oil burner for the purpose of heating the water containedwithin the tub 10. This member 12 is preferably formed in the nature ofa cylindrical casing which is open at both ends and is slit on a numberof longitudinal lines at its lower terminals so that the metal may bebent to produce, the four laterally extending lugs or fingers 54, whichare arranged to engage against the upper faces of the members 50 and 51,and the four quadrantly spaced containing fingers or tongues 55, whichare disposed, as shown in Fig. 1, to engage against the lower faces ofmembers 50 and 51 at their point of intersection.

In reduction to practice it has been found that the form of thisinvention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the abovedescription, as the preferred embodiment, is the most eliicient andpractical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with theadoption of this device will necessarily vary, it is desired toemphasize the fact that various minor changes in details ofconstruction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted towhen required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of thisinvention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is z- 1. Awashing machine including a body tub, a removable cover for the tub, aplurality of pounders mounted for reciproca- -the sliding movement ofthe shaft through the casing in both directions, said means beingarranged upon opposite sides of the cover pounding cups carried by thelower terminals of the shafts for engaging with the articles disposed inthe tub, and manually operable means carried by the cover and connectedto the cranks of the casing for reciprocating the pounders.

QQA washing machine including a tub having a removable cover, a pair ofpounders mounted for reciprocation through the cover and in the tub,each of said pounders including a channel-shaped casing, a crank memberattaching the casing to the cover, a shaft removably mounted in thecasing and held against lateral movement therefrom by the crank, a pairof springs wound about the shaft, there being a spring located at eachend of the shaft, said springs bearing against the terminals of thecasing and being arranged upon opposite sides of the cover, a poundercup carried by the lower terminal of the shaft, and means carried by theupper end of the shaft for adjusting the tension of the springs, meansoperatively connecting the pounders, and means connected to one of thepounders for imparting reciprocatory movement to all of the pounders.

3. A washing machine including a body tub, a removable cover for thetub, said cover being provided with spaced elongated openings, bracketplates positioned at each longitudinal edge of the openings andextending in parallel spaced relation to each other, a pounder mountedfor through each opening, each of said pounders including achannel-shaped casing, a pair of crank members having their bightportions journaled in the side walls of the casing, the terminals ofsaid crank members being journaled in the bracket plates, the cranks ofthe two pounders being arranged in parallel relation to each other, onecrank of one pounder having its terminal extended and bent to constitutean operating handie, the other terminal of said last-mentioned crankhaving a pinion, a pinion carried by the corresponding crank of theother pounder and meshing with the first-mentioned pinion, shafts freelymounted in the said casing, pounder cups carried by the lower terminalsof the shafts, and springs wound terminally about the shafts for yieldably resisting the movement of the shafts through the casing.

4. A washing machine including a body tub, a removable cover for thetub, said cover being provided with an elongated reciprocation opening,a bracket plate mounted at each longitudinal edge of the opening, saidbracket plates being mounted in spaced relation 'to each other, apounder mounted for reciprocation through the opening, said pounderincluding a channelshaped casing, a pair of crank members havingoutwardly bent terminals, said terminals being journaled in the saidbracket plates and arranged in longitudinally spaced relation, the bightportions of the cranks being rotatably mounted in the side Walls of thecasing, a shaft passing through the casing and held against lateralmovement therein by the bight portion of the crank, a pounder cupcarried by the lower terminal of the shaft, a nut. threaded on the otherterminal GEORGE A. STARKWEATHER. DEL D. HUTSON.

Witnesses J. F. Bnno'rHoLD, M. E. SNYDER.

[L. s.] [1,. s.]

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

